Cross-country preview: Locals eye big finish this fall

By JOE SOUZA

Thursday

Aug 28, 2008 at 3:15 AM

SANBORNTON — Lakes Region harriers turned in impressive finishes last fall. With 13 standouts who finished in the top 25 in Class M-S expected back on the trails, area programs should be in the running for top spots once again.

The Sant Bani girls, coming off a strong runner-up finish to powerful Hopkinton, should be in the mix with four of their top six runners expected to be back including Class M-S champion Mira Carey-Hatch. The junior took first overall with a time of 19 minutes, 55 seconds.

Sant Bani though will have plenty of company among contenders. Belmont and Moultonborough Academy certainly could be in the mix.

Newfound, Belmont, and Gilford hope to be running for a top five finish at the end of the season as well.

In Class I, Laconia and Plymouth could have the numbers to climb into the top half of the division.

Most area teams will begin building for the big meets this Friday at the Gilford Early Bird Invitational, which will be held at Gunstock Nordic area for the first time.

Sant Bani coach Scott Clark had two top finishers from a year ago transfer, one from each team, but Clark's girls squad should be competitive once again with Carey-Hatch back. Also returning are three solid sophomores in Taylor Clark, Leah Peters, and Sarah Xiao.

Runners expected back to lead the Sant Bani boys are Alec Peters, Ben Pollak, and Nick Lockwood.

BELMONTBoth Red Raider squads appear poised to make another run for a top three finish after both finished fourth a year ago.

The BHS girls return just two, but senior Erin Phillips and junior Sherrey Smith are talented and experienced. Phillips is one of the top distance runners in the state. She finished second in the 2006 Class M-S championships; placed sixth in the 3000-meter at the 2008 Class I-M-S Indoor Track & Field and second in the 3200m at the 2008 Class M-S Outdoor Track & Field.

"Though only two athletes returned from last year's team, the addition of four motivated and enthusiastic freshmen, who have trained through the summer, has proven to be very encouraging," said Belmont coach John Goegel, who takes over for long-time coach Jeri Blair. "The veteran athletes, Erin Phillips and Sherrey Smith, provide the all important elements of experience and strong leadership."

The BHS boys could find themselves in the mix with a tight group of upperclassmen. Leading the charge will be seniors Graham Hayslip and Emmett Collins; juniors Andew Norkiewicz, Luke Robichaud, Sean McCauley, Tim Gurshin, Tom Cole, Reid Plimpton, Mark Chapman, Nick Riendeau, and Jacob Biggs. Another athlete to watch is sophomore Chris Sanborn.

NEWFOUNDVeteran coach Earl Mills has a solid nucleus to build around as the Bears look to make another run for a top four finish. Newfound took third last year with 143 points behind powers Mascenic (50) and Hopkinton (73).

The core athletes back to lead the charge are Chris Plankey, James Haskell, Tim French, Riley Smith, Zac Morel, Sean Coleman, and Mike Bruning.

"We would like to finish in the top four in the class meet to make the Meet of Champions," said Mills, who is in his 38th season. "Our weakness will be our depth and our strength will be our dedication to the sport of cross country."

Mills sees Belmont, Hopkinton, and Mascenic as the teams to beat this fall.

With five runners, the Newfound girls will look to score well as a team. Kacy Cunningham, who was 20th in Class M-S a year ago, returns to the squad along with Katie Dorey. They are joined by Danielle Devost, Victoria Santry, and Jessica Yeaton.

Coach Gail Bliss, entering her 7th season, sees Newfound's youth as a strength while depth is a concern.

GILFORDWith a solid core of runners back, the Gilford boys will be looking to best last year's sixth place finish. On the other side, the girls are looking forward to scoring as a team after not having enough runners in recent years.

"The team looks good," said Gilford coach Kathy Aldridge. We are hoping for a top five from the boys ... and the girls, we are glad to have enough runners to score as a team."

Juniors Monique Baron and Alyssa Loureiro are back along with seniors Sara Snow and Lynsey Tyler to carry Gilford's hopes. Rounding out the team are senior Megan Buckner and junior Brittni Colbath.

INTER-LAKESThe Lakers may go through some growing pains with just two veterans back on the boys team and just one runner on the girls side.

"We are very inexperienced so it remains to be seen what happens," I-L coach Bill West said. "We obviously want to have a successful season, and enjoy the competitive experience."

Seniors Drew Clapp and Justin Sperry are the lone returning runners for the Lakers. The next two spots will likely be filled by seniors Tom Lehmann and Fraser Danielovich, both new to the sport. Battling for the next couple of spots will be junior Taylor Sperry; and sophomores Austin Hart, Ethan Lanza, and Galen Muskat.

Junior Janina Misiewicz is the only runner for the girls team.

MOULTONBOROUGHThe MA girls have the experience and depth to make a strong push for a top finish in Class M-S this spring, while the boys may endure some growing pains as they build for future success.

MA returns four veterans and an eighth grader who gained experience last fall, bringing high hopes for 2008. Leading the charge are juniors Claudia Severance (4-time All-State selection) and Denise Malm (MOC qualifier in track), and seniors Marie Costanza and Lauren McKinley. Also returning for the Panthers is 8th grader Abbey Coppinger.

They are joined by 8th grader Jasmin Buteau, who placed well in the 800m in track, and 7th grader Gabrielle Smith.

With two athletes back, the Panthers will look for steady improvement this fall. Sophomore Graham Severance is back along with freshman Nick Sindorf, and both are looking strong. Also looking solid are senior Evan Ames, a first-time runner, and 8th grader Joseph Smith.

"We have a young boys team this year, building for the future with only one senior," MA coach David Severance said. "The girls team is the strongest team so far at Moultonborough Academy, and should be in the mix at the top of Class M and S."

PROSPECT MOUNTAINWith key runners back and an increase in numbers, head coach John Tuttle is looking for his Timberwolves to make a move up the tough Class M-S ranks.

"We expect we'll be a little better," Tuttle said. "We have more numbers than we've had in the past and we hope to add more when school starts. Every year we get a little better so we are looking to take another step."

Prospect Mountain will field a team of nine runners, including three veterans and four freshmen. Senior Megan Farrell returns to lead the squad after finishing ninth in the Class meet in 2007. Also returning are senior Katie Gagne and sophomore Christina Varney.

The PMHS boys will look to best their 12th place finish from a year ago with juniors Isaac Fithian, Ryan Crawley, Zack Bungert, and Ben Iannotta returning to the team. They are backed by senior Ben Rogers, and sophomores Joe Rogers and Nick Myles.

WINNISQUAMThe Bears, who field a young squad, could surprise some teams with some key additions — giving them six runners on the boys team and five on the girls.

Winnisquam returns three boys to the squad in Ray Schmelzer, Brian Wadleigh, and Jason MacKinnon. They are joined by three new freshmen: Mike Quagliana, Brett Wilder, and Nathan Gilmore.

Jena Meier, who placed 18th in the Class M-S meet last fall, returns to lead the Winnisquam girls along with Jesse Pearce and Courtney Manseau. Naomi Brown, a transfer from Sant Bani, and Joanna Abondo, a foreign exchange student from Germany, are two strong additions that could lift Winnisquam to a new level.

"I have a very young squad for the boys team," WRHS coach Melissa Morse said. "We are looking forward to scoring in a meet! We are looking forward to a great season.

"We would like to wish all competitors luck and success this cross country season," added Morse.

CLASS I LACONIAThe Sachems are continuing their building process under second year coach Andy Mercer, and look prepared to make a move up in Class I after finishing 16th in the boys race and 24th in the girls.

Laconia received a big boost when David Brown transferring in from Sant Bani. Brown, who finished 7th in Class M-S, will join Laconia's top two returning runners — David Martino and David Miller, giving the Sachems a solid trio at the top. Also back are Curtis Monier, Matt Jenkins, and Brady O'Neil.

Rounding out the team are newcomers: Adam Emanuel, Cody Reynolds, Zachary Hamel, and Josh Curtis.

"It will be exciting to see how (Brown) can do a class up," Mercer said. "We have five runners and all look to be fast. Our team goal is to definitely improve. It's a long season, a lot of miles, and we want to improve on our place."

On the girls side, the Sachems have four solid runners and are looking to add at least one more so they can score as a team. Rosalie Philpot and Amy Mitza return to lead the squad that will also feature Madeline Philpot and Amy Cass.

"For the ladies, it's a game of numbers," pointed out Mercer. "We don't have enough to score, but we have four ladies who all look really strong."

PLYMOUTHThe Bobcats return quality numbers and look to run among the Class I leaders.

Plymouth lost standout Casey Dropkin from the girls team, but returns a host of talented athletes. Sophomore Abby Clark, who placed 36th in Class I last year, returns as Plymouth's top runner. Also back are seniors Maggie Baldwin, Danielle Berry, Jen Chalmers, and Beth Hacker; juniors Devon Clark and Aliza Harrigan; and sophomore Katie Uhlman.

Two new seniors, who could help out, are Sarah Hatfield and Molly McCahan.

Veteran coach Dave Robinson also is also expecting big things from a handful of veterans on the boys team. Returning to lead the Bobcats are seniors Ethan Ash, Kyler Mulherin, Steve Uhlman, Mike Horan, and Seth Grinley. Others to watch are sophomores Nick Grass and Conor Loynd, and freshman Matt Sanborn.

"I know the kids who are coming back," Robinson said, "but you know how tough Class I is so I don't know what to expect. I have a great group of kids who are working hard so we'll see."

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